Hammerkop

Piggy: Female, born October 12, 1999 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. She arrived at the Zoo on October 8, 2002.

Where to find me in the Zoo

McNeil Avian Center

Fun Facts

Hammerkops are the smallest African stork.

In parts of Africa, harming a hammerkop is considered bad luck.

They are often seen perching on the back of hippopotamuses, searching for frogs.

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Hammerkops are a small, brown wading bird thought to be closely related to the storks (in the Order Ciconiiformes) although recent DNA evidence places them closer to the herons and flamingos (in the Order Charadriiformes). You can often find them shuffling through shallow water raking up aquatic insects, small fish and frogs with their feet.

Longevity

Longevity of individuals in the wild is not well known. Hammerkops can live at least into their 20’s in captivity but this species was not common in zoos until recently so their true longevity is not yet known.

Behavior

One of the most distinctive aspects of the hammerkop’s behavior is the extremely large nest that these relatively small birds build. This nest of sticks, mud and grass can weigh more than 100 times the weight of the bird and may be one of the largest nests of any bird. Hammerkops are compulsive nest builders although the actual function of such a big nest is unknown although protection within the large cavity formed in the middle may be a factor. A pair of hammerkop may build multiple nests each year on their territory. This is good news for many other animals as Egyptian geese, speckled pigeons, barn owls and honey bees have all been known to use abandoned hammerkop nests.

Reproduction

Hammerkops appear to breed year-round in east Africa and breed primarily during the dry season in other locations. After building their large nest, a pair will lay from 3 to 6 eggs inside the central chamber. The eggs will hatch in 28 to 32 days and the chicks will fledge from the nest about 50 days later.

Size

Hammerkops stand about 21 inches tall.

Weight

Male and female are similar and weigh just under a pound.

Diet

In the wild, hammerkops feed mainly on tadpoles, insects, small fish, and occasionally small rodents. At the Zoo, the base diet for the hammerkop is a commercially made meat based diet. The enrichment portion of the diet includes a variety of insects, small fish and occasionally baby mice (pinkies).

Geographic Range

Wetlands, open woodlands and savannahs throughout most of tropical Africa.

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